title: Improving employee productivity through improved health.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to estimate productivity-related savings associated with employee participation in health promotion programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Propensity score weighting and multiple regression techniques were used to estimate savings. These techniques were adjusted for demographic and health status differences between participants who engaged in one or more telephonic health management programs and nonparticipants who were eligible for but did not engage in these programs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Employees who participated in a program and successfully improved their health care or lifestyle showed significant improvements in lost work time. These employees saved an average of $353 per person per year. This reflects about 10.3 hours in additional productive time annually, compared with similar, but nonparticipating employees.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participating in health promotion programs can help improve productivity levels among employees and save money for their employers.
authors.affiliation: From OptumHealth, Golden Valley, Minn.
authors.forename: Rebecca J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Ronald J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Ozminkowski
authors.forename: Seth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Serxner
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D004526:Efficiency; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015397:Program Evaluation; D057216:Propensity Score; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017132:Workplace / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data